Using and Supporting Local Agriculture

Planting summer gardens...if this is in your plans and you find yourself with surplus veggies, think about donating some to a food pantry. Go to www.AmpleHarvest.org and type in your zip code for a pantry near you. The site lists nearly 5,000 food pantries across the country.

Food pantries can also register here in order to receive donations.

You're probably very familiar with conventional grocery stores. You go to the store, pick your food from the shelves and coolers, pay for your food, and take it home. The selection rarely differs, you're bombarded by temptations from less than healthy options such as processed foods and junk food, and it's likely that you haven't much opportunity to try new foods.

What if we told you that there are options to shopping for food at a conventional grocery store? Options to select food bursting with nutrition and flavor, right from farmers not far from you, who can offer healthier food choices with far more variety? Options that may even save you money and help you support the worthwhile cause of sustainable farming?

This is no fantasy; it's a world of food that you may have never even heard of. You don't have to give up grocery shopping entirely, but isn't it nice to know that you can feed your family locally-grown food, have the opportunity to learn new recipes and find new foods, and teach your children about where their food comes from?

If you live in Ohio, http://local-matters.org is a wonderful place to start in order to learn more about using and supporting locally-grown food. This website is packed with resources that help you find nearby farmer's markets, pick your own farms (where you can actually hand-pick the produce of your choice - talk about a wonderful learning experience for your children!), grocers selling locally-grown food, food festivals, even community gardens where you can join in and grow your own food. Many will even accept your food credits/stamps.

Elsewhere in the United States? http://www.localharvest.org is the website for you. This powerful website has a plethora of resources listed from all over the country of many of the same types of entities found on Local Matters' website. Here you'll find everything from farmers' markets to community-supported agriculture, and even the wide variety of organizations dedicated to helping economically-challenged families with hunger and meal provision issues. You can search by city and state; you can also look at various Store Categories and see what is seasonal and currently available. For instance, click on "Fresh Fruits" and you see a full listing of what fruit is in season (and which will not likely be available). Seasonal fruit is often less expensive and healthier because it isn't grown in artificial conditions.

Studying either website will help you become more comfortable with the concept of finding, using, and supporting locally-grown foods. In the short run, it will be fun and educational for the whole family; in the long run, it not only helps support your local economy (which benefits everyone) but also promotes good nutrition and good health for your family.


Click here to view online version